The 100-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared: Personal thoughts

I came across this book last year (2022). I didn't have anything to read at the time (the books I've ordered were still being shipped) and my girlfriend had this old book, which she had read long ago. She said that I might enjoy it, so I had my suspicions because when she says I might enjoy a book I usually don't. One time she lend me the book Beautiful Disaster and said I might enjoy it — I don't know if the problem was the translated version, but I must say that I did't finish it, nor did I enjoy it, much to her amusement.

I'm, however, very glad that I read the 100-year-old man. She really got it right this time. So much that this year I've read the book again as I was needing a good laugh during my summer vacation.

The story literally starts as the title suggest. A man climbs out of the window of the Old Folks' Home in his 100-year birthday party. His name is Allan Karlsson, a century old geriatric fugitive that loves vodka and blowing things up.

The book chapters alternate between Allan's present (his escape) and past (his life story that lead to the escape). In the first century of his life Allan lived some very improbable adventures. He started to work from a very young age and learned how to do explosives at the time, one of his favorite things to do. This proved to be an invaluable skill as it lead him to meet some of the most important historical figures of the time, like General Franco, Mao Tse Tung, his good friend President Truman, among many others.

But the present Allan also has plenty of life to offer! Even though he did not came across any world leaders, he still embarked in a delightful adventure. Besides making some peculiar friends (which I believe most 100-year old do not), he was the principal suspect of the (somewhat comical) deaths of three people and even had the time to get in very good terms with an elephant. Present Allan's chapters narrate his escape and the police efforts to locate the missing old man (which turns into the prime suspect during the investigations).

That being said, combine the marvelous characters, the randomness of the events, add it a pinch of vodka and explosions and as a result you get many laughters as you read the book.

Overall, I find the 100-year-old man to be a great book for someone who just wants to relax and have a pleasant reading, without the need of getting something out of the book besides the joy and laughters it provides. Nevertheless I believe the book can teach you somethings. Mainly that you should worry less about things, that the simplest things might be the most valuable ones and that life can be a mishmash of random events that you cannot predict — some will be unpleasant, but others might make you see things through a whole other perspective and change your life completely.

I'm trying to take the teachings I've involuntarily learned in the book and translate them into my personal life! It'll most certainly be a hell of a ride, but for now I'm going for baby steps, like publishing this short and badly written blog post — it's a start and I feel a little bit of pride in myself for being able to finally start! Hope to be able to move to bigger things and starting producing better reads!

If you already read the book or are planning to do so, please share your opinion with me — I'll gladly read them! If you don't think this is the book for you, feel free to skip it! No point in wasting your time with something you don't find worthy.